Evolved node-B, spectrum access system (SAS) controller and method for communication in shared spectrum

Abstract

Embodiments of an Evolved Node-B (eNB), Private Spectrum Access System (SAS) controller, and methods for communication in shared spectrum are generally described herein. In some cases, primary usage of the shared spectrum by incumbent devices may be prioritized over secondary usage of the shared spectrum. The eNB may receive, from the Private SAS controller, a configuration message that allocates, to the eNB, a first channel included in the shared spectrum for secondary usage by the eNB. The eNB may further receive, from the Private SAS controller, a request that the eNB determine an interference measurement and may send the interference measurement to the Private SAS controller. The measurement may be based on an output transmit power used for transmission by the eNB in the shared spectrum.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for an Evolved Node-B (eNB), the apparatus comprising interface circuitry and hardware processing circuitry, the hardware processing circuitry to configure the interface circuitry to:
 receive, from a Private Spectrum Access System (SAS) controller, a first configuration message that allocates, to the eNB, a first channel included in shared spectrum reserved for primary usage by an incumbent device, the first configuration message indicating a first transmit power to be used, by the eNB, for transmissions on the first channel; 
 receive, from the Private SAS controller, a request that the eNB determine a system performance measurement; 
 send, to the Private SAS controller, the system performance measurement based on a communication between the eNB and a User Equipment (UE); and 
 receive, from the Private SAS controller, a second configuration message that includes a spectrum usage indicator for usage of the first channel by the eNB, 
 wherein when the spectrum usage indicator indicates that the eNB is to refrain from usage of the first channel, the second configuration message allocates, to the eNB, a second channel included in the shared spectrum and further indicates a second transmit power to be used, by the eNB, for transmissions on the second channel. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the spectrum usage indicator indicates either that the eNB is to refrain from usage of the first channel or that the eNB is permitted to use the first channel. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein when the spectrum usage indicator indicates that the eNB is permitted to use the first channel, the second configuration message further includes a transmission power limit for the usage of the first channel and/or a geographic area in which the usage of the first channel is permitted. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the system performance measurement includes an interference measurement based on an output transmit power used for a transmission of a data packet, by the eNB, to the UE. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the apparatus further comprises transceiver circuitry, and 
 the hardware processing circuitry is to configure the transceiver circuitry to transmit the data packet to the UE. 
 
     
     
       6. The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 the data packet is a first data packet, 
 the hardware processing circuitry is to further configure the transceiver circuitry to transmit a second data packet to the UE in the second channel, and 
 the hardware processing circuitry is to further configure the interface circuitry to send, to the Private SAS controller, an interference measurement based on a transmit power used for the transmission of the second data packet. 
 
     
     
       7. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the eNB is configured to operate as part of a mobile network operator (MNO) domain that includes the Private SAS controller. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus of a Private Spectrum Access System (SAS) controller, the apparatus comprising interface circuitry and hardware processing circuitry, the hardware processing circuitry to configure the interface circuitry to:
 receive, from a Public SAS controller, an indicator of channels that are available for secondary usage by a group of Evolved Node-Bs (eNBs), the channels included in shared spectrum reserved for primary usage by an incumbent device; 
 send a first configuration message that indicates a first allocation of the channels to the eNBs for communication with User Equipments (UEs), the first configuration message further indicating a first set of transmit power levels to be used by the eNBs for the communication with the UEs according to the first allocation of the channels; 
 receive, from the eNBs, interference measurements for the first allocation; and 
 send a second configuration message that indicates a second allocation of the channels to the eNBs for the communication with the UEs, the second allocation based at least partly on the interference measurements and an interference threshold determined by the Public SAS controller, the second configuration message further indicating a second, different set of transmit power levels to be used by the eNBs for the communication with the UEs according to the second allocation of the channels, the second set of transmit power levels based at least partly on the interference measurements and the interference threshold. 
 
     
     
       9. The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the apparatus is configured to operate as part of the Private SAS controller for operation with the Public SAS controller as part of an SAS hierarchy to manage the primary usage and the secondary usage of the shared spectrum. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 the interference measurements include one or more output power measurements at the eNBs and/or UEs, and 
 the hardware processing circuitry is configured to determine an aggregate interference level based on the output power measurements. 
 
     
     
       11. The apparatus according to  claim 10 , the hardware processing circuitry to configure the interface circuitry to:
 send the aggregate interference level to the Public SAS controller; and 
 refrain from sending the output power measurements to the Public SAS controller. 
 
     
     
       12. The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the second allocation is determined, by the Private SAS controller, in response to a reception, from the Public SAS controller, of an indicator that the aggregate interference level exceeds the interference threshold. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the refraining from sending the output power measurements to the Public SAS controller is to enable an obfuscation of the interference measurements from the Public SAS controller. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus according to  claim 8 , the hardware processing circuitry configured to determine the first allocation and the second allocation. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein for at least one of the eNB s:
 a first portion of the channels is allocated to the eNB as part of the first allocation, and 
 a second, different portion of the channels is allocated to the eNB as part of the second allocation. 
 
     
     
       16. The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the second allocation of the channels is performed to enable a reduction in interference for the communication between the eNBs and the UEs. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus according to  claim 8 , the hardware processing circuitry configured to:
 configure the interface circuitry to receive the interference threshold from the Public SAS controller; and 
 determine the second allocation of the channels based at least partly on a comparison between the interference measurements and the interference threshold. 
 
     
     
       18. The apparatus according to  claim 8 , the hardware processing circuitry to further configure the interface circuitry to:
 receive, from the Public SAS controller, an unavailability indicator for the shared spectrum for the secondary usage; and 
 send, to the eNBs, a spectrum vacate message that indicates that the eNBs are to refrain from usage of the channels for the communication with UEs. 
 
     
     
       19. The apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the spectrum vacate message is sent in response to the reception of the unavailability indicator. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the apparatus is configured to operate as part of the Private SAS controller for operation as part of a mobile network operator (MNO) domain that excludes the Public SAS controller. 
     
     
       21. A computer-readable storage medium that stores instructions for execution by one or more processors to perform operations for management of shared spectrum by a Private Spectrum Access System (SAS) controller, the operations to configure the one or more processors to configure the Private SAS controller to:
 allocate, for secondary usage for communication by a group of Evolved Node-Bs (eNBs) with one or more User Equipments (UEs), a group of channels included in the shared spectrum; 
 transmit a spectrum sensing request to the group of eNBs for interference measurements that include transmitted powers at the eNBs in the group of channels; 
 transmit, to a Public SAS controller, an aggregate interference level based on the received interference measurements; and 
 refrain from transmission of the received interference measurements to the Public SAS controller, 
 wherein the aggregate interference level is transmitted to the Public SAS controller to enable a determination, by the Public SAS controller, of a compliance for the communication by the group of eNBs, the compliance based at least partly on one or more interference restrictions for the shared spectrum, and 
 wherein the one or more processors are to further configure the Private SAS controller to: 
 receive, from the Public SAS controller, a compliance indicator for the communication by the group of eNBs, and 
 reallocate the group of channels for the secondary usage when the compliance indicator indicates that the communication by the group of eNBs is not compliant, 
 wherein the allocation of the group of channels is based on a first mapping between the group of channels and the group of eNBs and the reallocation of the group of channels is based on a second mapping between the group of channels and the group of eNBs. 
 
     
     
       22. The computer-readable storage medium according to  claim 21 , wherein:
 the shared spectrum is reserved at least partly for primary usage by one or more incumbent devices, 
 the operations further configure the one or more processors to configure the Private SAS controller to receive, from the Public SAS controller, an indicator of an availability of the group of channels for the secondary usage, and 
 the availability is based at least partly on an inactivity of the incumbent devices. 
 
     
     
       23. The computer-readable storage medium according to  claim 22 , wherein the operations are performed for the management of the shared spectrum by the Private SAS controller operating as part of an SAS hierarchy with the Public SAS controller. 
     
     
       24. The computer-readable storage medium according to  claim 21 , wherein the refraining from transmission of the received interference measurements to the Public SAS controller is to enable an obfuscation of the interference measurements from the Public SAS controller.